New England Patriots

Tom Brady took a shot at Samsung while defending himself in the Deflategate scandal -- claiming he didn't randomly destroy his cell phone ... but junked it because it was broken .. in exchange for an iPhone!

After the NFL issued a statement claiming Brady was more than suspicious when he 86'd his phone on the same day he was supposed to meet with investigators, TB finally fired back.

"I also disagree with yesterdays narrative surrounding my cellphone. I replaced my broken Samsung phone with a new iPhone 6 AFTER my attorneys made it clear to the NFL that my actual phone device would not be subjected to investigation under ANY circumstances."

"To try and reconcile the record and fully cooperate with the investigation after I was disciplined in May, we turned over detailed pages of cell phone records and all of the emails that Mr. Wells requested."

"We even contacted the phone company to see if there was any possible way we could retrieve any/all of the actual text messages from my old phone. In short, we exhausted every possibility to give the NFL everything we could and offered to go thru the identity for every text and phone call during the relevant time."

"Regardless, the NFL knows that Mr. Wells already had ALL relevant communications with Patriots personnel that either Mr. Wells saw or that I was questioned about in my appeal hearing. There is no 'smoking gun' and this controversy is manufactured to distract from the fact they have zero evidence of wrongdoing."

Tom Brady told the NFL he could not submit his cell phone as evidence in the Deflategate investigation because he destroyed it ... this according to the NFL.

Donald Trump just got some praise from a very powerful man -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft ... who hailed Donald as a financial wizard ... even if he turned down a chance to buy the Pats in the '80s.

There are reports Trump had a shot to buy New England in 1988 for somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million ... but passed 'cause he didn't think it was worth it.

Kraft bought the team in '94 for $172 mil -- and now they're reportedly valued at $2.6 BILLION!!

So, when Kraft was leaving Craig's in West Hollywood last night, we asked about the Trump story -- to which he replied, "Donald Trump's a very good investor. I wouldn't question anything he does."

We thought we could sense some sarcasm in the statement -- but it turns out, Kraft and Trump have been good friends for 20 years ... so, maybe a serious compliment?

Ex-New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes has pled GUILTY in his hit and run case stemming from a June crash in his Maybach ... but he won't do one single minute behind bars.

Instead, Spikes has been ordered to pay more than $2k in fines and his driver's license has been suspended for one year.

As we previously reported, cops found Brandon's expensive Maybach on the side of the interstate in Foxboro, Mass. on June 7. At first, Spikes said he hit a deer, but was lying. Instead, he smashed into the back of an SUV -- leaving 3 people with minor injuries, including a 12-year-old girl.

Spikes was initially charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, negligent driving, speeding and failure to stay in his lane.

But he struck a plea deal, and got probation for one year. His driver's license was suspended and he's been ordered to complete a safe driving course.

While his superstar QB was fighting the NFL to drop the Deflategate suspension, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was chillin' in Greece ... looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

TMZ Sports obtained pics of Bill hangin' out with his GF, Linda Holliday, on the Greek isle of Santorini this week ... doing some shopping, eating and hanging out at a local bar.

We're told the couple spent a lot of time in Oia -- known for being incredibly beautiful ... and one of the most relaxing places on the planet.

Rob Gronkowski is a championship football player ... sometimes we forget, because it seems all he does is dance.

Gronk let loose at The Underground in Chi Town Friday night, sharing DJ honors with DJ Dante as he sang and danced with family and friends.

Gronk's in the Windy City for the Nascar Xfinity Series Race at the Chicagoland Speedway. He's the Grand Marshall.

Boss respects Boss ... so says Rick Ross who tells TMZ Sports he's homies with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft ... and says the 74-year-old is a "super cool dude."

Ross says he and Kraft became friends when they "kicked it in the Hamptons" a few years ago ... and they've become better friends over time.

In fact, it's probably why Ross was invited to perform at the Pats Super Bowl party with the team back in February ... when he got Kraft to come onstage and DANCE with his crew.

#BFFs

Donald Trump is already droppin' the sports metaphors -- comparing China to the New England Patriots ... and claiming their leaders are like Tom Brady!!!

During his "I'm running for President" speech moments ago ... Trump took several shots at the Obama administration and other U.S. political leaders.

That's when he dropped the Brady shot -- saying China's leaders are like Tom Brady and the U.S. is like a high school football team ... "They are ripping us!"

He went on ... "Our leaders don't understand the game."

How close are the New England Patriots??? Well, they don't mind swappin' a little spit ... 'cause they chugged champagne together at an afterparty ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

After raging at the Super Bowl ring celebration at Robert Kraft's house last night, a bunch of the guys kept the party train rollin' to Cure Lounge in Boston -- where they raged 'til 2AM.

Among the partiers ... Gronk, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, LaGarrette Blount, Malcolm Butler and Jonas Gray.

But the most interesting part ... Tom Brady decided to tap out after the main party -- so his backup Jimmy Garoppolo represented for the QBs instead.

We're told the gang popped a $7,500 bottle of Belaire Rose -- Rick Ross' stuff -- and passed it around like blame in a Deflategate investigation.

Aaron Hernandez is throwing the most desperate Hail Mary ever ... trying to challenge his murder conviction by claiming one of the jurors may have had it out for him BEFORE the trial started.

Aaron's legal team just filed new court docs in an apparent effort to find a flaw in the Odin Lloyd murder case -- in the hopes Hernandez could get his murder conviction overturned.

Hernadez's main argument -- his lawyer says he received a tip from an anonymous woman AFTER the verdict ... saying she recognized one of the jurors whose ID was revealed on TV.

Aaron's lawyer says the woman also claimed she could prove the juror was familiar with the Lloyd murder and was "hoping" to be on the Hernandez jury.

If true, AH's lawyer claims it would mean the juror would have LIED during voir dire when asked if he/she had knowledge about the case.

The problem -- the lawyer doesn't know the mystery woman's identity ... since she called him from a blocked number and refused to give her full name because she was afraid.

Now, the judge will rule on whether or not the court should look into the matter further.

Tom Brady raided the family safe this morning ... busting out ALL FOUR of his Super Bowl rings to show off on social media -- while reminding everyone he's still married to a supermodel.

Check out the picture ... featuring rings from '01, '03, '04 and '14 ... along with Gisele's hand.

Brady included the message, "These four rings stand for ‪#‎Family‬, ‪#‎Team‬, ‪#‎Friends‬ and @Patriots fans. Without the support of each one, none of these would be possible."

"I am truly grateful and blessed. What an incredible journey."

As for the new Super Bowl ring -- it was made by Josten's ... weighs 4.85 carats, has 205 diamonds and includes the team motto, "Do your job."

Check out the pics.

Wanna see Tom Brady trying to dance to hip-hop music ... with Wiz Khalifa egging him on?

Great ... 'cause that happened at the New England Patriots Super Bowl ring ceremony last night.

Among the highlights ...

-- Tom Brady dancing to "Handsome and Wealthy" by Migos
-- Robert Kraft dancing to "6 God" by Drake
-- Rob Gronkowski gettin' low to "Trap Queen" while sweatin' through his shirt

The party all went down at Robert Kraft's home. Everyone left with fabulous parting gifts (205 diamonds).

NFL linebacker Brandon Spikes never hit a deer on a Massachusetts freeway this weekend -- instead, cops say he struck an SUV and fled ... and now he's been hit with criminal charges.

The story was bizarre from the start -- with officials discovering Brandon's expensive Maybach car on the side of the interstate in Foxboro early Sunday morning with no signs of Brandon.

The OnStar operator who responded to the crash said Brandon claimed he had struck a deer.

Cops smelled something fishy and investigated ... and now, they believe there was no deer ... instead, he smashed into the back of an SUV -- leaving 3 people with minor injuries, including a 12-year-old girl.

Officials say Spikes has been charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, negligent driving, speeding and failure to stay in his lane.

Spikes was cut by the New England Patriots following the crash.

Tom Brady ain't the only Patriots star who gets to lead ... 'cause star wideout Julian Edelman took his turn calling the shots last night ... conducting the world famous Boston Pops orchestra.

Edelman took over the Symphony Hall stage late Wednesday for the 34th annual "President At Pops" fundraiser and led the orchestra in a grand finale of "Stars and Stripes Forever."

We're told Edelman actually took his gig pretty seriously ... meeting up with veteran conductor Keith Lockhart earlier in the day to get a few pointers.

This isn't the first time a big sports star has picked up a baton for the Pops ... Shaquille O'Neal took on the task back in 2010 and we gotta say ... he left some pretty big (size 22) shoes to fill.

FYI -- We're told Julian did a great job ... the only question left is when is it gonna be Gronk's turn?

Check out the vid.

Two Boston tow truck operators didn't want to go down as the guys who hauled off Rob Gronkowski's party bus, so they let him off the hook ... and the Gronk couldn't have been happier.

Matthew from Todisco Towing tells TMZ Sports he was called to Howl at the Moon in Boston early Sunday morning to haul off a bus that was parked illegally in a private lot.

Despite the bus being adorned with a Body Armor logo (which Rob endorses) and his #87 ... Matthew claims he had no idea he was about to tow Gronk's ride.

Once the bus was up on the truck and ready to go, Matthew says several patrons began asking him, "Don't you know whose bus that is?"

Then, someone from Rob's entourage came out and promised to move it ... and Matthew decided, "I didn’t want to find out what the end result would be if I had towed the truck. You know Pats fans wouldn’t have that."

So Matthew let the truck down and that's when Gronk emerged -- super thankful for the reprieve -- and posed for a few pics.

Matthew was quick to tell us ... Gronk never asked anyone to stop or offered any kind of favor. Everyone involved was just acting out of the kindness of their hearts.

Not everyone was so lucky ... a few other cars did get towed that night.

Pays to be Gronk.

We already know he doesn't like Tom Brady ... and Tom Brady's hair -- but now it seems NFL superstar Terrell Suggs doesn't like TB's Deflategate punishment either.

The Baltimore Ravens stud was leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills last night when we asked if the Pats got what they deserved -- $1 million fine, loss of draft picks and the 4-game suspension for Brady.

Sugg's response -- "I don't know. That's not my job. I'm glad I don't got it ... but the last coach that got caught cheating got suspended for a whole year. So ..."

Seems he's strongly suggesting Brady and the gang got off SUPER EASY compared to New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton who was banned from the league for the entire 2013 season for allegedly covering up Bountygate, where players targeted opponents for cash bonuses.